The title doesn’t refer to my solving time, which was average at best – 12 minutes, but to this blog entry. I have a busy day ahead of me, so this will be short and … Read more “Times 23658 – quick one today”
Times 23657 – Fairly disastrous
Solving time: 23:02 My first thought for 1A was that “quite” means FAIRLY, and there is AIR which means “dry”, and so I entered it, resolving to work out how “quarry” could possibly mean FLY … Read more “Times 23657 – Fairly disastrous”
23656 – very hard but very good
Solving time: 22:51 I found this one pretty tough – there’s almost nothing trivial, and lots of novel clues to keep even old hands sucking their pencils. Based on what looks like a setter’s “signature” … Read more “23656 – very hard but very good”
Times 23655/in a flat spin
Solving time: 42’ Solved in under half-an-hour except for the top-left: 1A and 1D took another 15’ to decipher. The usual couple of wordplays that I’m still mull[et]ing over. Across 1 FLATS,PIN – Only after … Read more “Times 23655/in a flat spin”
23,654 – Cant beat last week’s time
Solving time: 31 mins Another fast Monday time for me!I did most of the top half first, getting the first 5 across clues at first look! Last to go in was 20A.I only had one … Read more “23,654 – Cant beat last week’s time”
Mephisto 2,445 – Chris Feetenby
Did this a week ago, but have only now gotten round to writing the blog – don’t remember there being anything contentious or overly difficult in this puzzle, but as I write this, I may … Read more “Mephisto 2,445 – Chris Feetenby”
Jumbo 706
Solving time: about 25 mins Solved this at the airport or on the plane a fortnight ago and then forgot to keep it, so the time is a guesstimate. Some nicely done long anagrams and … Read more “Jumbo 706”
ST 4232 (Sun 8 Jul) – Ruse contre ruse
Solving time: 9:39 Some nice clues in this (17ac and 23dn are my favourites), and the usual couple of mistakes – wordplay in 26ac and enumeration at 21ac. * = anagram, “X” = sounds like … Read more “ST 4232 (Sun 8 Jul) – Ruse contre ruse”
Racing the cryptic clock – Times for the week’s puzzles
[Minor changes to the system below are the result of suggestions in the comments. The first serious contest will be next week, based on your times for Puzzles from Sat 14 July to Friday 20 … Read more “Racing the cryptic clock – Times for the week’s puzzles”
Times 23,652 – 20ac looking at some of this!
A fairly challenging puzzle today, I thought. Some of the clues seemed to take longer than I’d have expected if I’d been on form and there are a couple I’m unsure about. Solving time – … Read more “Times 23,652 – 20ac looking at some of this!”